Match Report : 02/05/2015

2 May 2015

Watford came within a whisker of being crowned champions on their home soil of Vicarage Road – only for Wednesday to spoil the party as the curtain came down on the 2014/15 season.

Matej Vydra scored midway through the first half to give the Hornets the lead in a carnival Hertfordshire atmosphere but the Owls hit back in stoppage time through Atdhe Nuhiu to claim a late, late leveller.

Watford dominated overall, carving a raft of chances, with the Owls pinned back in their own half for much of the contest

Wednesday were out to upset the odds and the hosts - who headed into the game with promotion assured – but found it tough going as Watford showed their promotion credentials.

Boasting one of the most potent home records in the division, the onus was always on the Hornets to take the game to Wednesday and this they did from the first whistle, almost profiting five minutes in when Marco Motta broke free down the right but Tom Lees cleared.

Troy Deeney threatened next and raced in on goal only to see Chris Kirkland dash off his line to thwart the home side’s leading scorer.

But Watford were not to be denied and took the lead on 25 minutes.

Kirkland was down sharply to keep out another effort from Deeney and the rebound fell nicely for Vydra to nod into an empty net.

It was nearly two just past the half-hour when a neat build-up with dangerman Deeney at the heart created a golden chance for Almen Abdi, who skewed his shot wide.

Wednesday introduced Nuhiu for Caolan Lavery to help stem the tide but the Hornets kept coming and Abdi smashed narrowly over the bar from a Motta feed four minutes before the break.

The Owls welcomed the half time whistle but were on the back foot immediately after the resumption when a brave last-ditch challenge thwarted Deeney 12 yards out on the angle.

Wednesday did grow into the second half, though, and offered much more going forward, although the better of the chances fell to the Hornets.

Vydra and Deeney went close, Kirkland saved well from Juan Carlos Parades and it seemed the hosts were on course for the title.

But it was not to be as substitute Nuhiu prodded a bouncing ball home right at the last to finish the campaign with another creditable away point for Wednesday.